The development of an intervention programme to reduce whole-body vibration exposure at work induced by a change in behaviour: a study protocol

Background  

Whole body vibration (WBV) exposure at work is common and studies found evidence that this exposure might cause low back pain (LBP). A recent review concluded there is a lack of evidence of effective strategies to reduce WBV exposure. Most research in this field is focussed on the technical implications, although changing behaviour towards WBV exposure might be promising as well. Therefore, we developed an intervention programme to reduce WBV exposure in a population of drivers with the emphasis on a change in behaviour of driver and employer. The hypothesis is that an effective reduction in WBV exposure, in time, will lead to a reduction in LBP as WBV exposure is a proxy for an increased risk of LBP.     

Age, sex, ethnicity, body composition, and resting energy expenditure of obese African American and white children and adolescents

BACKGROUND: African Americans may have a lower resting energy expenditure (REE) than do whites, although the data are limited for obese children and adolescents and for boys. Differences in bone density and trunk lean body mass may account for some of these measured differences in REE. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the REE and body composition of obese African American and white children and adolescents. DESIGN: Obese, 5-17-y-old children and adolescents were evaluated (n = 203). Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. REE was measured by open-circuit calorimetry. African American and white children were compared. The relation between REE and the independent variables (age, sex, ethnic group, fat mass, and fat-free mass or lean tissue mass) was assessed. RESULTS: Of those evaluated, 66% were girls and 34% were African American. Age, sex, pubertal status, and body composition did not differ significantly by ethnic group. All the independent variables were significantly associated with REE. Using lean tissue mass to account for differences in bone density did not significantly alter the results. REE decreased with age and was lower in the girls than in the boys and in the African Americans than in the whites. When trunk fat-free mass was included in the model in place of whole-body fat-free mass, the ethnic difference in REE decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Adjustment for trunk lean tissue mass partially explains the lower REE of obese African American children and adolescents. The lower relative REE of older obese children suggests the importance of early intervention in the prevention of childhood obesity. The lower REE of girls and of African Americans may contribute to the difficulty in weight management in these groups.     

Angiomatoid carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Anaplastic carcinoma with follicular and medullary features mimicking angiosarcoma

A 79-year-old man with a 28-year history of a substernal goiter had an anaplastic thyroid neoplasm with prominent angiomatoid features develop. Based on the light microscopic appearance of the tumor and the presence of immunocytochemical staining for Factor VIII-related antigen, a diagnosis of angiosarcoma was made. Subsequent immunocytochemical and ultrastructural studies suggested follicular and medullary differentiation without staining for Ulex europeaus I lectin or evidence of Weibel-Palade bodies. Based on these findings, the tumor is interpreted as an anaplastic carcinoma with evidence of mixed follicular and medullary differentiation and extensive intravascular growth producing an angiomatoid appearance. Positivity for Factor VII-related antigen may be due to nonspecific uptake of antigen-rich serum and platelets by the phagocytic tumor cells. Factor VIII-related antigen immunoreactivity should be interpreted with caution in intravascular neoplasms.     

长骨干骨折脂肪栓塞综合征患者内固定植入物及其方式的选择：26例随访分析

目的:通过长骨干骨折脂肪栓塞综合征患者内固定植入物及其方式的合理选择,以最大限度减少手术创伤及减少对骨折端的刺激,有效避免脂肪栓塞综合征的复发。方法:①对象:选择1998-02/2006-03唐山市第二医院创伤科收治长骨干骨折行内固定植入的脂肪栓塞综合征患者26例。②方法:采用非扩髓髓内钉固定股骨干、胫骨干中段骨折及多段骨折、微创经皮钢板内固定股骨干远端骨折及胫骨干远近端骨折、钢板固定肱骨干、桡骨骨折;术后早期进行系统的康复治疗;并接受随访。术后定期复查X线片,并观察材料及宿主反应。结果:①术后随访:16例患者术后随访12～24个月,10例患者随访25～108个月。②X线摄片评定骨折愈合结果:长骨干骨折髓内钉固定于术后10～17周临床愈合;微创经皮钢板固定,于术后9～19周临床愈合;钢板固定,于术后13～20周临床愈合。无髓内钉松动及断钉、断板等并发症,肌力5级,未发现脂肪栓塞综合征后遗症。③植入物与组织的生物相容性能评估:术后无切口感染、局部炎症反应、排异反应。结论:对于长骨干骨折的脂肪栓塞综合征患者,非扩髓髓内钉、微创经皮钢板及钢板3种内固定植入物及植入方式均可满足不同部位及类型长骨干骨折的需要,植入物与人体具有良好的生物相容性,不增加脂肪栓塞综合征复发率及后遗症。     

Awards Presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the BEHAVIOR GENETICS ASSOCIATION

Announcement

Awards Presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the BEHAVIOR GENETICS ASSOCIATION Thursday, June 9th, Hotel Viking, Newport, RI, USA     

The lymphotoxin Cys13Arg polymorphism and cognitive functioning in individuals with schizophrenia

Genetic factors that modulate the immune response have been implicated as risk factors for schizophrenia and cognitive impairment. We assessed the correlation between cognitive functioning and the LTA Cys13Arg polymorphism in 351 individuals with schizophrenia, 122 with bipolar disorder, and 160 controls. There was a significant association between cognitive functioning and the LTA Cys13Arg polymorphism within the schizophrenia (p<0.008) but not the other diagnostic groups. There was no association between cognitive functioning and the two other polymorphisms in the same gene complex. The LTA Cys13Arg polymorphism may represent a risk factor for cognitive impairment in individuals with schizophrenia.     

C-reactive protein is associated with the severity of cognitive impairment but not of psychiatric symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association between serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, and the severity of psychopathology and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. METHODS: We measured the levels of CRP in N=413 individuals with schizophrenia. Symptom severity was evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and cognitive functioning with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). RESULTS: The individuals with CRP >or=5.0 mg/microl had significantly lower RBANS cognitive scores than those with CRP <5.0 mg/microl (F=8.07, p<.005). However the CRP groups did not differ in the severity of positive, negative, or general PANSS symptoms (all p>.2). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein in schizophrenia are associated with the severity of cognitive impairment but not of psychiatric symptoms. The long term consequences of elevated levels of CRP require further investigation.     

Proven germline mosaicism in a father of two children with CHARGE syndrome

CHARGE syndrome is an autosomal dominant malformation syndrome caused by mutations in the CHD7 gene. The majority of cases are sporadic and only few familial cases have been reported. In these families, mosaicism in one parent, as well as parent- to-child transmission of a CHD7 mutation, has been described. In some further cases, germline mosaicism has been suggested. Here, we report the first case in which germline mosaicism could be demonstrated in a father of two affected children with CHARGE syndrome. The truncating mutation c.7302dupA in exon 34 of the CHD7 gene was found in both affected children but was not detected in parental lymphocytes. However, in DNA extracted from the father's spermatozoa, the c.7302dupA mutation could be identified. Furthermore, mutation analysis of DNA isolated from 59 single spermatozoa revealed that the c.7302dupA mutation occurs in 16 spermatozoa, confirming germline mosaicism in the father of the affected children. This result has a high impact for genetic counselling of the family and for their recurrence risk in further pregnancies.